Hossa makes former 'mates pay with OT winner

Hossa makes former 'mates pay with OT winner

DETROIT Joel Quenneville talked to Marian Hossa about double shifting against the Detroit Red Wings prior to Monday nights game. It was a tall order, and not one the coach asks of a player often.

WATCH: Hossa supremely confident

But Hossa did it and couldnt have had a better response.

Hossa scored the game-winning goal just 51 seconds into overtime and Corey Crawford stopped 33 of 35 for his 30th victory this season as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at Joe Louis Arena.

The Blackhawks now have 90 points, but remained in eighth place in the Western Conference after the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 later Monday night.

Hossa has gone through his injuries and tough moments this season but has been healthy and playing strong lately. He was at it again on Monday, taking 33 shifts and playing just under 24 minutes.

Definitely at this moment I feel good but there was a stretch in the middle of the season when I had injuries, things like that and I didnt feel good at all, he said. Right now Im going without injuries and I feel like Im in (a good) tempo. Coach is using me a lot and my confidence is there.

Hossa split time with starting linemates Bryan Bickell and Marcus Kruger and also went with recent partners Michael Frolik and Tomas Kopecky.

I felt pretty good. I had a lot of confidence tonight and good things happened at the end, said Hossa, who had seven shots on goal. I was hoping to find that one shot and thank God it was the last one.

It was the third time this season the Blackhawks beat the Wings, but none may have been bigger than this one. It was an entertaining game, with great play across the board. Patrick Kane had two assists and Keith had his 35th helper on Hossas game-winner.

Joey MacDonald stopped 38 of 41 shots for Detroit.

Looking back over the course of the season, this was the most important win weve had at any point, Quenneville said. (Hossa) had a great shot and I thought he had a great game. Across the board it was a good game and a huge win for us.

Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead after the first period and they carried that into the beginning of the third. Then Henrik Zetterbergs power-play shot deflected off Chris Campoli and past Crawford to tie it.

Zetterberg was then whistled for a hooking call on Kane with just 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation to set up the Blackhawks power play and Hossas winner.
Niklas Hjalmarsson dives in front of Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom and Corey Crawford makes the save during the third period of a 2-2 tie. The Blackhawks would win on Marian Hossa's goal 51 seconds into overtime. (US PRESSWIRE)
We love the celebration after the goal. Its kind of his trademark thing right now, said Toews. Well take that. He stayed hungry all night and got that big one for us. He had some big chances early and he was around the net all night.

The Blackhawks wont have much time to rest after this one, with a tilt against Boston on Tuesday. Mondays victory was big. Theyll need a few more of those as they close in on the regular-season finish line.

I like the energy we had from the outset, Quenneville said. This was a playoff game for us. This is a huge win coming off a very disappointing loss the other night. None bigger all year.

Shipping off to Boston with momentum

Johnson OK after hit

Ryan Johnson took a Todd Bertuzzi elbow early in the first period and had to leave for a few minutes to be evaluated. He also had to have a small part of his right ear stitched back on. Johnson, who had suffered a concussion Feb. 11 in Dallas, returned to Monday nights game, playing a little more than 13 minutes.

Bertuzzi, meanwhile, was given a five-minute major as well as a game misconduct. Johnson said Bertuzzi came into the Blackhawks locker room and apologized to him.

I knew I was going to have to kind of take a hit to make the play there, but I dont think it was anything malicious, Johnson said. He was very apologetic, came walking right in here and said Sorry as soon as it happened.

Quenneville said We didnt do much with (the power play), but a five-minute major was probably the right call. Asked if Tampa Bay defenseman Pavel Kabinas elbow to Dave Bolland was worse, Quenneville said, absolutely.

For the third time since the event was created, the Blackhawks will participate in the Winter Classic, facing the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 2, 2017.

To build some hype for the Central Division showdown, which will feature two teams that find themselves battling for the top seed in the Western Conference, Ryan Hartman and Trevor van Riemsdyk of the Blackhawks squared off with Joel Edmundson and Robby Fabbri of the Blues in EA Sports' NHL 17.